News

Soldiers and Airmen from the Tennessee National Guard have been activated in response to the EF3 tornado that struck Davidson, Wilson, and Putnam counties in the early morning of March 3.

Currently, personnel from the Tennessee Air Guard’s 118th Mission Support Group, based at Berry Field, have moved 2-100KW generators to support a water treatment facility in Jackson County.  These generators restore power to critical infrastructure, while permanent power is unavailable.

More than 60 Soldiers with the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment’s 2nd Squadron from the National Guard armory in Cookeville are supporting state and local police with traffic control.  Additionally, a military police company has been activated to assist within the next 24 hours.

During emergency situations, the Tennessee National Guard responds to requests from local and state emergency management agencies to assist in a variety of functions. Tennessee National Guard members actively prepare for a variety of emergency situations during training, including responding to devastating tornadoes.

“Plain and simple, we have 12,000 Soldiers and Airmen that are citizens of this state serving in the National Guard. We will make every last one of those available to our communities on an as needed basis,” said Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, Tennessee’s Adjutant General. “We’re available, we are actively engaged, and this is why our Soldiers and Airmen wear the uniform.”

The Tennessee National Guard will continue to work with local and state emergency management officials to assist in recovery efforts and will regularly provide public updates.

Governor Bill Lee announced that he is appointing Stephen Smith as the Director of Tennessee’s Division of TennCare, the state’s Medicaid program that provides health care for approximate6ly 1.4 million Tennesseans. 

“I am proud to announce that Stephen Smith will be the new Director of TennCare,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “I am confident that his leadership will keep TennCare as a leader in the nation, and my administration appreciates his willingness to continue serving our state.”

Smith currently serves as deputy director and chief of staff for the Division of TennCare, where he manages multiple program areas, including policy, legal and legislative affairs, budget and finance, and information technology. Before that, he served in former Governor Haslam’s administration in a variety of roles, including chief of staff, policy director, senior advisor, and deputy commissioner for policy and external affairs at the Tennessee Department of Education.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Nashville School of Law, Smith resides in Nashville with his wife, Christina, and their three daughters. 

Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP today provided an update on actions underway to ensure Tennessee is prepared for an outbreak of COVID-19. Tennessee does not have any cases of COVID-19 at this time, and the risk to the general population in Tennessee and the United States remains low. Piercey’s remarks are available online at https://youtu.be/XQjeJqg72cI. Her statements are included below.

TDH is providing information on COVID-19 online at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html. Additional information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Statement from Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP, February 28, 2020:

Fellow Tennesseans,

I’m Dr. Lisa Piercey, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health. With a growing concern in our nation over coronavirus, I wanted to share with you some information and update you on our preparedness efforts.

As in any emerging threat, our knowledge grows with time. At this point, we know that coronavirus is a respiratory illness with symptoms and spread much like influenza or “flu.” Its primary symptoms are fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and usually come on anywhere between two to 14 days after exposure. In most people, the illness produces mild to moderate symptoms that do not require hospitalization. However, just like with influenza, the elderly, people with chronic lung conditions and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk.

There are also some things that we don’t know for sure right now, such as if the virus can be spread by people without symptoms, or how long the virus can remain on nonliving surfaces like door knobs and bathroom faucets.

The most important thing to know is that Tennessee is prepared. Our state has one of the best emergency preparedness systems in the nation, and we have been in daily contact with our local, state and federal partners to coordinate our response efforts, including specialized plans for our hospitals, schools, employers, prisons and military.

It is common to feel helpless and vulnerable during these types of situations, but there are some things you can do. First and foremost, wash your hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing, and avoid touching your face, nose and mouth. You should also avoid close contact with people who are sick, and if you are feeling ill, stay at home to protect others.

While there are currently no cases in Tennessee, we continue to monitor the situation closely. The Tennessee Department of Health will issue a statewide advisory promptly, if we determine that the virus has reached our state.

Fear, panic and misinformation can be just as dangerous as an outbreak itself. If you want additional information, I encourage you to seek a reputable source of news, such as the CDC or the World Health Organization. Tennessee-specific information can be found on our website at TN.gov/health.

Today, Gov. Bill Lee announced that he is proposing legislation to advance the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Tennesseans by implementing a Constitutional Carry law.  

“The Second Amendment is clear and concise and secures the freedoms of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “I am pleased to announce Constitutional Carry legislation today that will protect the Second Amendment rights of Tennesseans, while also stiffening penalties on criminals who steal or illegally possess firearms. I appreciate Lt. Governor McNally and Speaker Sexton for helping to lead the way on this important issue.”

The governor’s legislation would extend the constitutional right to carry a handgun to all law-abiding citizens with or without a permit who are 21 and older, except in current restricted areas.

The legislation also includes several increased penalties for firearm-related crime to promote public safety including:

• Increasing the penalty for theft of a firearm to a felony;
• Providing a sentencing enhancement for theft of a firearm in a car;
• Increasing the minimum sentence for theft of a firearm from 30 days to 180 days;
• Increasing the sentences for unlawful possession of a firearm by violent felons and felony drug offenders, possession of a handgun by a felon, and unlawfully providing a handgun to a juvenile or allowing a juvenile to possess a handgun.

“A big part of protecting the Second Amendment for law-abiding citizens is cracking down on criminals who use guns. We will make sure those who commit crimes with firearms serve their full sentences and nothing less. Many states across the nation are moving towards permitless carry and I support the governor in this initiative,” said Lt. Governor Randy McNally.

“This legislation ensures that law-abiding citizens have a constitutional right to carry their handgun, but if you are a violent criminal, felon or drug dealer, there will be no tolerance for unlawful gun possession here in Tennessee,” said Speaker Cameron Sexton.

“I applaud Governor Lee’s commitment to Tennesseans’ Second Amendment rights guaranteed by our U.S. and state constitutions. This proposal will reduce barriers to ensure citizens have the ability to protect themselves and their families, while imposing stiffer penalties against criminals who possess guns illegally,” said Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson.

“This constitutional carry package is historic because not only does it uphold the freedoms granted to us by our nation’s founding fathers, it also imposes mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines on bad guys who illegally obtain or use handguns,” said House Majority Leader William Lamberth. “I want to thank the National Rifle Association for their work over the years in making today a reality, and I look forward to working with Governor Lee, as well as my House and Senate colleagues to get Constitutional Carry passed in Tennessee.”

Cannon County Schools have announced the District-Level Teachers of the Year for the 2019-2020 School Year.  Each teacher was selected to represent the Cannon County School District in three categories:  PreK – 4^th Grade; 5^th Grade – 8^th Grade; 9^th Grade – 12^th Grade.  One Teacher in each category was selected by a committee to represent Cannon County as the District Teacher of the Year in the Upper Cumberland CORE Region. A special announcement and ceremony took place in each educator’s school the past few weeks.

The Teacher of the Year program recognizes and honors outstanding teachers in Tennessee. We applaud teachers who care about children, who devote their professional lives to enriching the lives of Tennessee students, and who demonstrate exceptional gains in student achievement. Goals of the program are:

• Promote effective teaching practices by recognizing and rewarding outstanding teachers.
• Engage regional teachers of the year in education policy making through the Teacher Advisory Council.
• Encourage participation by every school in the state so that all Tennessee teachers may be recognized and rewarded.
• Build a network of local and state corporate sponsors.
• Provide a network for teachers to share effective practices.
• Encourage a sense of professionalism in teaching.
• Encourage greater participation in building a strong community-school partnership.

The Tennessee Teacher of the Year program is designed to promote recognition, respect and appreciation for teachers, to stimulate interest in teaching as a career, and to encourage public involvement in education.  Teachers of the Year are selected competitively through five cycles: school, district, region, grand division and state in three grade bands: Pre-K–4, 5–8, and 9–12. Please note that these levels refer to the grade(s) taught by the teacher and not to the grade structure or designation of the individual school.  The following teachers were selected to represent Cannon County Schools as District Teachers of the Year 2019-2020:

Cannon County Schools – 2019-2020 District Teachers of the Year

PreK-4th Grade – Julie Hackney of Woodland School – Mrs. Hackney is in her 18^th year of teaching and is currently serving her 17^th year as a First Grade Teacher at Woodland School in Bradyville, TN.  She has previously taught at West Side School from 2001 to 2003.  Mrs. Hackney stated, “Like most educators, I take pride in my teaching.  I am always looking for advice, professional development, and researching how to give the best instruction. Over the course of the past 17 years, I have learned many things about my teaching practices.  Every person in our community can make an impact on a student’s life. Helping achieve this goal is a wonderful honor and privilege.”  

5th Grade – 8th Grade – Carla Parker of Woodland School – Mrs. Parker is in her 15^th year of teaching and currently serves as a Fifth Grade Teacher at Woodland School in Bradyville, TN.  She previously taught Third Grade at Woodbury Grammar School in 2004-2005. Mrs. Parker stated, “I feel every student deserves my best, and if I am giving them my best, I expect nothing less than their best.  Every student can learn and be successful, but one of the biggest keys to this is meeting students where they are and taking them as far as possible to help them become higher achievers.  It is my hope every day that I learn something new, and can make a difference for my students.”

9th Grade – 12th Grade – Mrs. Annie Reed of Cannon County High School – Mrs. Reed is in her 15^th year of teaching and currently serves as English/Language Arts Inclusion Teacher/Response to Intervention Coordinator at Cannon County High School in Woodbury, TN for the past 15 years.  Mrs. Reed stated, “Throughout my teaching career, I have been guided by the desire to always do what is in my students’ best interests, even if it meant creating new challenges for myself.  Education cannot be a one-size fits all approach.  We have to understand, as educators, that students have different needs.  People learn differently, and having information presented in as many styles and ways as possible simply ensures that I am doing the best I can to provide a quality education to every student, regardless of their personal needs.”

Director of Cannon County Schools William F. Curtis stated regarding these excellent examples of the quality of educators in Cannon County Schools, “We are tremendously proud of each one of these outstanding educators. Each one of these deserving teachers exemplify the MISSION of Cannon County Schools – ‘Preparing ALL Students for Their Future’ through our VISION –‘The New E3 –Engaged in Excellence Every Day.’  These individuals live the Mission and Vision every moment of every day, and we salute them for their distinguished efforts! All of us in the Cannon County School District stand behind these outstanding individuals and wish them the very best as they represent the finest of Cannon County Educators in the Upper Cumberland Region of the State of Tennessee!”

Cannon County High School Girls Head Basketball Coach, Mr. Jonathan Odom, has resigned as Head Coach effective immediately.  He submitted his resignation to Cannon County High School Principal Mr. Courtney Nichols and then announced his decision to the Girls Basketball Team and Staff on Monday. February 24^th, 2020.

Mr. Odom has taught Carpentry and Physical Education at Cannon County High School since 2015-2016 when he was named as the Head Coach of the Lionettes Basketball Program following the departure of Coach Michael Dodgen earlier that year.  Odom will be staying on as Physical Education Teacher for the next few weeks and will be continuing other vocational interests.

Cannon County High School Principal Courtney Nichols stated, “Coach Odom will be greatly missed by the CCHS Faculty, Students, and Supporters of Cannon County High School.  He is a man of high moral character and always pushing his students toward excellence. Mr. Odom always went above and beyond of what his job duties required, and we are appreciative of his efforts.” 

Cannon County Director of Schools, William F. Curtis, stated, “I am saddened by the resignation of Coach Jonathan Odom earlier today.  He has been a coach of impeccable character and role model for our Cannon County High School athletes and students.  I sincerely believe that Coach Odom gave of himself completely toward our Girls Basketball program.  We are indebted to him for his commitment and service to these young lady scholar athletes, as well as, all of his students in the classes he taught.”

Cannon County High School will begin the search process for a new Girls Head Basketball Coach starting immediately.

Tennessee’s Severe Weather Awareness Week is Feb. 25, to Mar. 3, 2018, and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and Tennessee’s National Weather Service (NWS) offices are using this week to promote preparedness to Tennesseans.

“Severe weather can occur at any time in Tennessee,” said TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan. “TEMA wants Tennesseans and our state’s visitors to understand severe weather hazards, and prepare themselves and their loved ones to receive and understand warnings, and get to safety, when severe weather threatens.”

TEMA & NWS will host a Facebook Live event at 2:30 p.m., Central, on Mon., Feb. 26, 2018, to help Tennesseans understand the hazards and threats of severe weather. The NWS in Nashville will host the Facebook Live event at www.facebook.com/NWSNashville with TEMA posting the event simultaneously at www.facebook.com/TNDisasterInfo.

NWS Awareness and Education Events
NWS offices in Nashville, Memphis, Morristown, and Huntsville, Ala. will also hold a series of education and training events, using each day of Severe Weather Awareness Week to focus on a different severe weather threat. Information on Tennessee Severe Weather Week activities is available at http://www.weather.gov/ohx/swaw2018.

“Now is the time to think about what your actions will be in the event severe weather including tornadoes and floods impacts you,” said Krissy Hurley, warning coordination meteorologist at NWS Nashville. “Our last few severe weather seasons have been relatively quiet, so we definitely don’t want Tennesseans to become complacent thinking that severe weather won’t happen to them. It’s not if severe weather will strike; it’s merely a matter of when.”

A highlight of the week will be the statewide tornado drill NWS will conduct at 9:30 a.m., Central, on Wed., Feb. 28, 2018. The drill will also include a statewide test of NOAA weather radios.

Be Ready, Make a Plan, Have a Kit
A key message of Severe Weather Awareness Week is to help Tennesseans understand the importance of having emergency plans in place before a flood, tornado, or other threat is imminent.

“The most important preparedness tip is to stay informed to its potential,” Sheehan said. “At home, at work, or in your vehicle, have multiple ways to receive weather information and warnings: keep a battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio at home; watch TV and listen to the radio for weather updates; and. download applications that push weather information to mobile devices.”

Other severe weather awareness tips and resources include:
• Never venture into high water, either on foot or in a vehicle.
• If you’re outside and hear thunder, go indoors immediately.
• Go to a basement or an innermost, first floor room in your home if you’re told to take shelter during a tornado warning.
• Know the location of and route to your office or building’s tornado shelter.
• Never try to outrun a tornado.
• Have an emergency plan ready at places where your family spends time – work, school, daycare, commuting and outdoor events.
• Emergency plans should include where to meet, and who family members should check in with, if you are separated from family members during a severe weather emergency.

At a minimum, emergency preparedness kits should include one gallon of water per-day, per-person, and per-pet, for three to five days. The kit should also have enough non-perishable food for each family member, and pets, for three to five days.

Other items that every kit should include: flashlight, battery-powered radio, extra batteries, first aid kit, personal hygiene items, cell phone charger or solar charger, and copies of important family documents.

It is also very important that emergency kits contain extra supplies of medications, especially for those in the household with chronic health conditions.

Online Preparedness Resources
A number of websites provide resources to help with the creation of emergency plans. The website, https://www.ready.gov/ and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, https://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit/disasters/, have information, fill-in-the-blank documents, and other resources to help individuals and families assemble the basic components needed for personal emergency plans.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has emergency preparedness information for businesses at www.sba.gov/managing-business/running-business/emergency-preparedness. The Ready website also includes a workplace preparedness section at https://www.ready.gov/workplace-plans.

About the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency: TEMA’s mission is to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery from man-made, natural and technological hazards in a professional and efficient manner in concert with our stakeholders. Follow TEMA on: Facebook, TNDisasterInfo; Twitter, @T_E_M_A; LinkedIn, www.linkedin.com/company/tnema/; Tumblr, https://t-e-m-a.tumblr.com; and, at www.tn.gov/TEMA.

Tennessee Severe Weather Awareness Week 2018 Proclamation

A man, who police are calling the ‘Mule Kick Burglar,’ has been arrested and tied to at least 59 business break-ins in several Middle Tennessee communities.

A Murfreesboro Police Department officer stopped a vehicle driven by Robert Shegog, 35, of Murfreesboro on January 27, and charged him with possession of drugs.  This led to Shegog being identified as the possible suspect in the rash of business burglaries dating back to September 2019.  He was interviewed, and arrested Friday, Feb. 21, for multiple counts of burglary, theft and vandalism.

Shegog was coined the mule kick burglar because he was seen on surveillance video standing with his back to the front door of the businesses and kicking in the glass to enter.  He is accused of stealing more than $100,000 in cash from businesses in 11 cities throughout Middle Tennessee: 

• Shelbyville Police Department (16 Burglaries)
• Murfreesboro Police Department (14 Burglaries)
• Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office (7 Burglaries)
• Smyrna Police Department (8 Burglaries)
• Chapel Hill Police Department (3 Burglaries)
• Tullahoma Police Department (2 Burglaries)
• Manchester Police Department (2 Burglaries)
• Woodbury Police Department (2 Burglaries)
• Bedford County Sheriff’s Office (2 Burglaries)
• Nolensville Police Department (1 Burglary)
• Wilson County Sheriff’s Office (1 Burglary)

“The break-ins and thefts have rattled businesses in the mid-State area, and we are grateful the businesses were closed, and no one was hurt,” said MPD Criminal Investigations Division Detective Shan Harris.  “This was good ole-fashioned police work, with several agencies working together to get the suspect’s vehicle description, and the person responsible arrested.”

Shegog remains in jail at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $62,000 bond.  He is scheduled to appear in Rutherford County General Sessions Court, March 24.

The investigation is continuing, and more charges are pending from the other agencies.

The season ended Wednesday night for the Cannon County Lionettes.  The Lionettes lost to the DeKalb County Lady Tigers by a score of 37 – 33. The Lionettes ended the season with a 19-11 record on the season and 6-8 in the district.

The Cannon County Lions made their debut in the second round of the 8-AA District tournament Thursday night at Watertown.  The Lions defeated the DeKalb County Tigers by a score of 41 to 39.

On Saturday, Cannon County faced York Institute in the semi-final round. York won 63 -44. Cannon now moves to the consolation game with Watertown. Game time is 6:00pm Tuesday at Tennessee Tech.

WBRY hopes you will make the trip to Cookeville and show your support for the Lions. If you can’t, Teddy Taylor and Nolan Bell will have the action on am1540, fm107.1 and on the local link at wbry.com.

U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-6) reaffirmed his commitment to helping Tennessee hardwood lumber producers and industry workers in a meeting with United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in Washington, D.C. recently.

“Secretary Perdue provided an in-depth report on the continued progress of a Phase One trade deal with China, specifically as it relates to the hardwood lumber industry,”Rep. Rose said. “The success of a Phase One agreement is very important to the many family-owned hardwood lumber businesses in Tennessee, and I am grateful for my constituents who brought this critical issue to my attention.”

Rep. Rose met with Secretary Perdue, along with twelve of his fellow Members of Congress, including Rep. David Kustoff (TN-8) and Rep. Scott DesJarlais (TN-4).

Half of all hardwood lumber produced in the United States is exported to China. In the last several months, sales to that market have declined by 42 percent.

“In Tennessee, nearly 38,000 families rely on the hardwood lumber industry as a way of life,” Rep. Rose continued. “These families depend on sales to China. The severe disruption the hardwood lumber industry has faced in recent months has significantly harmed business owners and families in Tennessee.”

U.S. Representative John Rose represents Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District and resides in Cookeville. The Sixth District includes Cannon and eighteen other counties.